Bromley CCG are wanting to hear views from residents about their experiences of using blood taking services, after a referral from their GP. Their aim is to understand how residents currently access blood taking services and if the services are meeting their needs. To have your say, you can complete their survey here. 

They are also running an evening focus group to get your views on the 20th October, from 6.00-7.00pm. This will be held in the Harry Lyne Room at the Beckenham Beacon. If you would like to attend please email liz.munro3@nhs.net. 

Have you heard about Our Healthier South East London, which is the five year strategy to improve health and integrated care across south east London. The programme is led by the six NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in the region, including NHS Bromley CCG (which covers the Beckenham Beacon) with commissioners from NHS England (London), working in close partnership with local authorities, local providers of care and other partners.

Healthwatch Bromley have asked our Residents’ Association to pass on information about this survey. They are trying to reach as a wide a cross-section of individuals in Bromley borough and are contacting many community groups.

Bromley Mental Health Survey please fill in by 26th August 2015

One in six adults is known to suffer from mental ill-health caused by mild to moderate depression and a range of anxiety disorders. In Bromley, adults can get help for mental health conditions in various ways, of which two are listed here:

a) If you are aged 18 and over, you can self-refer or get your GP to refer you to ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)’ which helps people suffering from depression and a range of anxiety disorders (including panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, excessive worry, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or phobias).

b) If you are struggling to find or stay in work due to your mental health problems and are aged 18+, you can self-refer to Bromley’s Mental Health Employment (MHE) service. They support people in recovery from mental health problems to find or stay in work, by offering personalised flexible services.

Both of these services – IAPT and MHE – are going to be under review as new contracts will be issued in 2016. The organisations that pay for theses service (NHS Bromley CCG and Bromley Council) want to know your views on current services provided by Improving Access to Psychological Therapies and Mental Health Employment. They also want you to help decide future local provision. We, Healthwatch Bromley and Lewisham, has been asked to run this survey with local residents to find out what you think about these services. Healthwatch Bromley gives people a powerful voice locally and nationally, by helping you to get the best out of your local health and social care services. So this covers people who use services now and those who might need to use services, in the future.

Who should fill in the survey? How can you do it?

Your opinion does and will matter. You could be a current IAPT or MHE user. You might have heard about the service informally. You might have a friend or family member who has used it. You might know someone with depression and anxiety who has not wanted to get help. Whatever your viewpoint, please consider filling this survey in, as long as you are aged 18 or over, live or work in Bromley, and want to change things for the better! You have until Wednesday 26th August 2015 to fill it in. We want to know what ‘good’ mental health support looks like for those suffering from depression and a range of anxiety disorders in Bromley, as well as those needing to find work.

Use this website link to fill in the Healthwatch Bromley and Lewisham survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/bromleymentalhealth

Please do pass this email and link to family and friends to complete too. It will take you from 8 to 15 minutes to complete, depending on how much you have to say. The survey provides instructions on which questions to complete, to guide you. Please complete the survey as thoroughly and honestly as possible. You can skip sections that do not apply to you.  If you prefer to attend a focus group, there is one being held at Beckenham Beacon on the 26th August 2015 – you can attend the morning 10-12pm or the afternoon 2-4pm.  Please email for more info. 

What happens next? I have more questions….

All the information you provide is secure and anonymous (If you provide any contact details these will be separated from survey results). All responses will come back directly to HWBL to be collated, analysed and put into a report for NHS Bromley CCG. You can ask for a copy of this at the survey end. Lastly, when you reach the end of the survey, you will find information listed on local and national support for people struggling with depression or anxiety disorders

If you want to call someone to discuss this survey or get someone to ask you the questions by phone, please email comment@healthwatchbromley.co.uk or leave a message on 07511 774613.

If you have questions about broader issues raised by this survey, please call HWBL on 020 8315 1916.

The Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is working with our five neighbouring CCGs (Bexley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark) to develop a health commissioning strategy for south east London.

The programme, called ‘Our Healthier South East London’,  has launched an Issues Paper setting out why things need to change in the local NHS, some of their emerging ideas and considerations, and questions for the local people to respond to if they wish. It can be viewed online at: http://www.ourhealthiersel.nhs.uk/about-us/issues-paper.htm

This is not a public consultation document, it is a paper summarising the Bromley CCG’s early thinking on health issues facing the borough. Local people can make comment directly to the Bromley CCG by email to trishwatts@nhs.net

The Bromley Clinical Commissioning group located in the Beckenham Beacon are looking for local people to join their Patient Advisory Group (PAG) to help shape health services in Bromley Borough.

There are plenty of ways to get involved. From completing a quick online survey, to being part of a focus group that will meet to discuss a particular health topic, you will play a vital role in improving the overall experience of healthcare in Bromley for patients and the public.

For more information, and to join, visit:
www.bromleyccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/Pages/get-involved.aspx
Or contact patient.query@bromleyccg.nhs.uk

Bromley Council will be undertaking a detailed ‘Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment’ later in the year. The assessment forms part of a regular review carried out for NHS England to inform decisions about meeting the future pharmacy needs of those who live or work in a particular area.

To help carry out the review Bromley Council would like to invite residents and those who work in the borough to tell them about the pharmacy services they use in the borough. The survey can be found at the link below.

Pharmacy Survey 

The results of the survey will form the draft ‘Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment’ and  the Council will consult on this in October 2014.

This scheme run by the Park Langley Club allows you and your family to play tennis for free in Kelsey Park, Croydon Road Recreation Ground and Kings Hall Road.

There is a one off payment of £25 covering the period until end of August 2015. This payment covers all members of the family and includes the cost of the fob that gets you onto the courts. All courts are booked on-line and booking is free of charge.

To find out more check out  www.theparklangleyclub.co.uk/tennis-for-free/

Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)  is currently reviewing the Neurology Services across the borough and is seeking the view of patients and carers about the current service. Currently Neurology Services are delivered in a range of healthcare settings and while the individual services are good, the feedback suggests that they are fragmented and do not provide seamless care.  Those affected locally are encouraged to provide feedback as over the coming months the CCG and Kings College Hospital are looking at what additional services can be provided from the Beckenham Beacon.

To provide feedback please answer the following questions and return by email to either Astrid Holness (astrid.holness@nhs.net) or Bhumika Mittal (bhumika.mittal@nhs.net).

Neurology Services Feedback

• What Neurological condition does your family have experience of?
• How old is the patient?
• What services do you access for family members?
• What are your views of the services?
• What things are working well?
• What things can be improved?
• As a carer do you feel supported? If so, by which agency; if not, tell us what you would like to see happening
• What happens to your family member if you become unwell?

Check out the latest edition at the link below.

Newsletter

In May we attended the first Beckenham Beacon Stakeholder Discussion Group. We would like to think this group was a result of the Public Meeting our Association held with West Beck RA about the future of the Beacon in Nov 2012 and the huge turn out of residents – your support really made a difference. Apologies for being late on reporting this, but there was a delay on the Minutes.

The main purpose of the Group is to review current health services provided at the Beckenham Beacon and consider how these services (and others) can be developed to fully utilise the site. The Group mainly consists of health professionals and GPs, and both our Association and West Beckenham Residents’ Association attend to represent residents. The Beacon is currently occupied by the following organisations:

• Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group 13% (office and meeting space, Patient Referral Centre)
• South London NHS Trust 45.50% – this is the part that will be taken over by King’s College Hospital (Children’s Outpatients, Pain Clinic office, Physiotherapy & Surgical Appliances, Community Midwives, and offices, some of which are unused)
• Bromley Healthcare 24.30% (Speech and Language Therapy, Bromley Wellbeing, District Nursing/Health Visiting)
• Elm House Surgery 9.54%
• Cator Medical Centre 6.84%
• Bite cafe 0.74%

There was much discussion on unused space in the Beacon and under utilised space that could be used better. The main question is what to fill it with? The Group has asked us to canvass residents on what services they would like to see in the Beacon:

• What existing services would you like to see expanded or have longer opening hours?
• What new services would you like to see in the Beacon?
• There may also be some services you would prefer to be moved out of the Beacon. Perhaps other sites have better facilities or perhaps you already have to go to another site for one part of your care and would prefer to have all your care done on one site.

The following suggestions and points were raised at the meeting:

• Concerns were raised that Radiology (xray) and Diagnostics Department may not continue. It was assured that King’s are interested in providing these services but are unsure about the demand, due to a lack of data from SLHT they will need to undertake a scoping exercise. King’s are not intending to expand the Radiology service at this point but it may be an option longer term. It was noted that Radiology could benefit from an improved appointment system. Radiology services should also be open at the weekends, at present patients attending the Minor Injuries Unit or Urgent Care Centre at the weekend have to be sent to the PHUH for an xray.
• Blood services have no appointment system and consequently patients often experience long waits. It was noted that the Blood services is usually quieter in the afternoon, however patients may not be aware of this. The complexities of implementing an appointment system were discussed, we asked that at minimum there should be morning and afternoon appointment blocks.
• The children’s blood service should be in the same department as adults, currently children are treated separately. The BCCG is looking into setting up cardiology services, diagnostics and community clinics at the Beacon.
• Cardiology and cardiac rehab is a top priority to be put into the Beacon.
• Neurology services will be provided by King’s at the Beacon.
• It has been raised whether antenatal services remain and the Beacon and King’s have suggested a full scoping exercise to find out demand. • We asked that the Urgent Care Centre have extended hours up to 10pm (12pm was discussed but was not possible).
• We asked for a Fracture Clinic, noting the long journey to the PRUH for anyone with a fracture and the many sports clubs in Beckenham.
• We raised the issue of car parking, ie not enough and payment on exit. It was advised that it is unlikely anything can be done as this had been fully explored as part of the new build and that planning restrictions would prevent what is required for a pay on exit system.
• We raised whether inpatient beds will be provided at the Beacon and it was confirmed that Intermediate beds would not be put at the Beacon as they would require a host of additional services not provided at the site.
• There is still an Audiology Department but no Audiologist, it was advised that there is scope to improve this as this is under used.
• Learning Disability service was requested.
• Sexual Health patients complain of appointment slots and long waits to be seen, extended appointments requested.
• Dermatology services need extended hours on Saturdays to meet demand.
• Physiotherapy services requested as Orpington hospital where they are currently provided is closing.
• Ophthalmology requested as Orpington hospital where they are currently provided is closing.
• Holiday jabs service requested.
• One stop Social Care Service requested.
• Children & Young People Services requested.

This discussion group is your opportunity to have your say about the services provided in the Beacon. Please email us at chairman@coperscope.org.uk with your comments and we will pass on your comments to the Group at the next meeting in July

Check out the newsletter below.

Newsletter

The Spring edition of the Young Carers Newsletter is also available.

Newsletter

The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association invited the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who a responsible for commissioning health care services in the borough, to address Beckenham residents at their AGM and Open Meeting on 28 March 2013. The room was packed with, over 110 residents, our MP Bob Stewart, Copers Cope Cllr Mellor, Penge and Cator Cllr Getgood and Clockhouse Cllr Milner.  Continue reading “Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group tells Beckenham what the future holds for the Beckenham Beacon” →

8pm Thursday 28th March 2013. Beckenham Public Hall, 4 Bromley Road, Beckenham, BR3 5JE 

Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association has invited the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group to their AGM & open meeting to address residents on the future of the Beacon in light of the South London Healthcare Trust (SHLT) pulling out. We encourage all Beckenham residents to attend this meeting, you do not have to be a member of our Association. Residents will also have an opportunity to address our councillors and MP.

• The Annual General Meeting of the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association from 8pm to 8.30pm.
• Dr Jon Doyle (Clinical Lead), Paul White (Associate Director of Delivery) and Janet Edmonds (Senior Carepathways Redesign Manager) of the Bromley Commissioning Group from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. 

Background

Currently the NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) pays the SLHT to provide services at the Beacon. When SHLT pull out Bromley CCG will need to commission care from another provider. The TSA recommend the SLHT hand over the Beacon to Bromley CCG on 1 June 2013 (and the Secretary of State for Health advises it must be done by 1 October 2013 at the latest).

The 1st of June will soon be upon and as yet Bromley CCG has issued no formal plans for the Beacon. They have advised that they still want to have GP and practice nurse services, access to a service dealing with minor injuries, and a range of outpatient and diagnostic services and tests such as blood tests and X-rays, delivered at Beckenham Beacon. They are also looking at options around other primary and community care services.

We understand they are in negotiation with Kings College London to provide services at the Beacon, and that Kings College also want to enhance services at the Beacon. (Note: another of the TSA’s recommendations is that Kings College London take over Princess Royal University Hospital, this is expected to happen some time between June and October.)

Naturally residents are concerned that the services provided at the Beacon will change. We may get some new services, however there are worries that key services currently provided at the Beacon may move, perhaps to Princess Royal Hospital Farnborough or even Kings College London. To address this and give residents the opportunity to have their say we have invited Bromley CCG to speak at our open meeting. We hope the following will be covered.

• Update on negotiations with Kings College London.
• Confirmation of specific services that will remain at the Beacon.
• Future improvements/opportunities for the Beacon that have been confirmed or are being explored. (Note previously the CCG advised Intermediate Care Beds being provided could be considered).

Following the South London Healthcare Trust (SLHT) being put into administration,  the Trust Special Administrator’s has recommended the merger of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich (operated by SLHT) and Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust (not operated by SHLT). This will see Lewisham Hospital cease to have an A&E. As Lewisham A&E is the closest for many Beckenham residents you may wish to support the Save Lewisham A&E Campaign.

There are currently 2 petitions doing the rounds.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lewisham-hospital/

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41027

Following the South London Health Care Trust being put into administration a report has been published that recommends the NHS Trust terminates it lease at the Beckenham Beacon. A  public consultation on these recommendations is now open until the 13th December (respond to the consultation: www.tsa.nhs.uk/tell-us-what-you-think).

Extract from the report: “Beckenham Beacon: The Trust currently only provides outpatient and diagnostics services from the site, but in doing so occupies around 45% of the total space. This makes the space very poorly utilised and comes at a cost of over £1.7m a year. By improving the utilisation of the space and services within Princess Royal University Hospital, the Trust will be able to provide the services considerably more efficiently from there. Discussions have therefore started with Bromley CCG on ending the lease, which will reduce the Trust’s spend by £1.7m per year.

As part of these discussions, the CCG will be considering how it can most effectively use Beckenham Beacon to support the delivery of its communitybased care strategy. This may include the provision of some planned care, outpatients and diagnostics from the site. The CCG is also exploring opportunities to maximise the utilisation of the building for health and social care provision, which could include moving other local primary care and community services in as well.”

Bromley CCG refers to the NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group which becomes a statutory body in 1 April 2013. Until then Bromley CCG will operate under the aegis of Bromley Primary Care Trust (PCT) which remains the statutory organisation for the commissioning of health services in Bromley until 31 March 2013.

What residents what to know is:

1. When can the South London Health Care Trust terminate the lease?
2. What services will be lost from the Beacon?
3. What services do the Bromley CCG/PCT plan to provide in the Beacon?

Our Association will champion the Beacon and strive to find these answers. We have a public meeting on Weds 7 November 8pm at the Beckenham Public Halls, please come along and raise your concerns with our Councillors and our London Assembly Member. This consultation on health provision in our town, borough and South East London more widely is significant to us all.

Useful links

Respond to the consultation: www.tsa.nhs.uk/tell-us-what-you-think

Summary of the TSA’s recommendations:www.tsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Summary%20of%20TSA%20recommendations.pdf

Full draft report: www.tsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/TSA-DRAFT-REPORT-WEB.pdf

The South London Healthcare Trust (SLHT) was put into administration in July after being declared bust.  The SLHT operates out of three main sites Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough near Orpington, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup. It also operates two smaller satellite sites, the Beckenham Beacon and Orpington Hospital.

The Trust Special Administrator’s draft report into the future of South London Healthcare NHS Trust and services in South East London has now been published.  The key areas affecting Beckenham are:

• The NHS Trust pulling out of the Beckenham Beacon by terminating the lease, discussions are already underway. What if anything will be put in its place? Residents may have to travel to Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough for services previously provided at the Beacon.
• A recommendation to merge the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site with Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust will see Lewisham Hospital cease to have an A&E (this is the closest A&E for many Beckenham residents).

Lewisham Hospital has the closest A&E for many Beckenham residents. If the Minor Injury Unit at the Beacon is also closed the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough will be the closest hospital for urgent care. It is also recommended Orpington Hospital be sold off.

A summary of the recommendations can be found below. A  public consultation on these recommendations is now open until the 13th December. Respond to the consultation: www.tsa.nhs.uk/tell-us-what-you-think

Draft recommendations 

The draft recommendations put forward in the TSA’s report propose a response to the long-standing issues at South London Healthcare NHS Trust (and its predecessor Trusts) and the sustainability challenges that are forecast to be facing the wider south east London system in the future. The recommendations are set in the context of the need to move towards a model of healthcare that ensures continued improvement in life expectancy and quality of life while addressing the challenges of an ageing population, the growth in the number of people with long term conditions and constrained levels of funding to the NHS. Only through a response to all of these dimensions can safe, high quality, affordable health services be secured for the population of south east London in a sustainable way.

The scale of change required both in the Trust and across the wider health economy is significant and cannot be delivered instantly. A three-year transformation programme is recommended. Through this, the NHS in south east London will be able to deliver services within the resources available by the end of the financial year 2015/16. At this
point of the UPR process, it is proposed that the transformation programme has six elements to it:

1. The operational efficiency of the hospitals that make up South London Healthcare NHS Trust needs to improve so that the Trust’s costs are in line with strong performing NHS organisations.

2. Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup should be developed into a Bexley Health Campus providing a range of services to the local population, including day case elective surgery, endoscopy and radiotherapy. The facility should be owned by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and services should be provided by a range of organisations.

3. Vacant and poorly utilised premises should be exited (leases) or sold (freeholds). The NHS should engage with the local authorities in Bromley and Bexley in the 2 process of selling surplus estate to ensure its future use maximises regeneration opportunities. [This includes the NHS pulling out of the Beckenham Beacon by terminating their lease, and selling off Orpington Hospital.]

4. On an annual basis until the relevant contracts end, the Department of Health should provide additional funds to the local NHS to cover the excess costs of the PFI buildings at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital.

5. In line with commissioner intentions to improve the quality of care for the local population, there should be a transformation in the way services are provided in south east London. Specifically, changes are recommended in relation to community-based care and emergency, maternity and elective services:

• Community Based Care – The Community Based Care strategy for south east London should be implemented to deliver improved primary care and community services in line with the aspirations in the strategy. This will enable patients to receive care in the most appropriate location, much of which will be closer to, or in, their home.
• Emergency care – Emergency care for the most critically unwell patients should be provided from four sites – King’s College Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital. Alongside this, services at University Hospital Lewisham, Guy’s Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup will provide urgent care for those that do not need to be admitted to hospital. Emergency care for those patients suffering from a major trauma (provided at King’s College Hospital), stroke (provided at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital), heart attack (provided at St Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College Hospital) and vascular problems (provided at St  Thomas’ Hospital) will not change from the current arrangements.
• Maternity care – There are two options under consideration to ensure that a high quality of care is provided for women needing to be in hospital during pregnancy and for women when giving birth. Obstetric-led deliveries could be centralised in line with critical emergency care across King’s College Hospital, St Thomas’s Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital; alternatively, there could also be a ‘stand-alone’ obstetric-led delivery unit at University Hospital Lewisham. All other maternity care will continue to be provided in a range of locations across south east London.
• Elective care – An elective centre for non-complex inpatient procedures (such as hip and knee replacements) should be developed at University Hospital Lewisham to serve the whole population of south east London. Alongside this 3 elective day cases procedures should continue to be provided at all seven main hospitals in south east London; complex procedures should continue to be delivered at Kings’ College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital, and specialist procedures at Guy’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital. Outpatient services should be delivered from a range of local locations.

6. In order to deliver this transformation programme, South London Healthcare NHS Trust should be dissolved and other organisations should take over the management and delivery of the NHS services it currently provides. In addition to the proposals for Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup outlined above:

• The Queen Elizabeth Hospital site should come together with Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust to create a new organisation focused on the provision of care for the communities of Greenwich and Lewisham.
• There are two options for Princess Royal University Hospital. The first is an acquisition by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which would enable the delivery of service change, enhance the services offered at the site and strengthen the capacity of the site to deliver the necessary operational improvements. This is the preferred option at this stage. However, an alternative option is to run a procurement process that would allow any provider from the NHS or independent sector to bid to run services on the site.
• It is important that these new organisations are not saddled with the issues of the past. To this end, it is recommended that the Department of Health writes off the debt associated with the accumulation of deficits at South London Healthcare NHS Trust. By 31 March 2013, this is estimated to be £207m

Useful links

Respond to the consultation: www.tsa.nhs.uk/tell-us-what-you-think

Summary of the TSA’s recommendations: www.tsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Summary%20of%20TSA%20recommendations.pdf

Full draft report: www.tsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/TSA-DRAFT-REPORT-WEB.pdf